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| "Wait are you saying that since I caved to the NRA I can't also cave to this other group?" |
Four Democratic senators who defied President Barack Obama to help defeat gun-safety legislation -- Alaska Sen. Mark Begich among them -- are facing the wrath of activists who promise to make them pay a political price.
President Barack Obama said it was a "shameful day" in Washington when the Senate rejected a watered-down bill including expanded background checks for gun-buyers on April 17. Several groups say they plan to punish the four Democrats through newspaper and television ads, protests outside their offices, and automated telephone calls to constituents.
"The level of anger around this is higher than on anything I've seen in years, decades," said Matt Bennett of Third Way, a policy group aligned with Democrats whose founders previously worked on gun-policy issues. "These senators do not have a suitable explanation for what they did."
Begich and two other senators are up for re-election in 2014: Max Baucus of Montana and Mark Pryor of Arkansas. North Dakota's Heidi Heitkamp was elected in November to her first six-year term. (P.S. Since this article was posted Max Baucus has chosen NOT to seek reelection. Hmm I wonder if his vote had any impact on that decision?)
All four are from states that voted for Republican Mitt Romney for president last year. And while the outside groups will target both Democrats and Republicans who voted against the legislation, they are particularly angry at the Democrats who broke ranks and some of the groups are targeting them over Republicans in their first wave of ads.
Begich voiced no regrets in an interview the day after the vote. "I voted what has been consistent with where I have been for the last 25 years," he said.
There are those that are pretty confident that this cowardly act by Mark Begich will not have an impact on his reelection chances, but I disagree in that without a great deal of enthusiasm from the Democrats up here he is dead in the water.
I no longer feel such enthusiasm, and don't know anybody who does.
Like I said before I think Mark's ONLY chance is for the Republicans to remain in such disarray that somehow Joe Miller once again wins the primary. Right now he is the only Republican that I can confidently say Begich can defeat.
Sent this to Heidi Heitkamp today:
ReplyDeleteA few weeks later, she won a surprise victory. But this week, Heitkamp betrayed those hopes. She voted to block legislation to make gun background checks more comprehensive. Her vote — along with those of 41 Republicans and three other Democrats — was a key reason the measure fell short of the 60 votes needed for passage.
Polling has shown that nine in 10 Americans and eight in 10 gun owners support a law to require every buyer to go through a background check on every gun sale. In North Dakota, the support was even higher: 94 percent. Yet in explaining her vote, Heitkamp had the gall to say that she “heard overwhelmingly from the people of North Dakota” and had to listen to them and vote no. It seems more likely that she heard from the gun lobby and chose to listen to it instead.
AND.she does not care if ND turns into a shithole like Mayflower AR.
She is such a disappointment.
Our other senator, Hoeven, a banker, for chrissakes, also voted against the wishes of the people of ND.
I would say shame on them, if I believed they could feel it.
I don't.
(quote from New Republic)
Yes, and that is what Mark Begich used as his excuse too. I will vote for him if the choice is between him and Joe Miller, but I am hoping Scott McAdams will get back in. There's change I can believe in!
DeleteIf any competent Democrat shows up to challenge Mark, I will vote for them. And I have supported Mark Begich since he first ran for office.
ReplyDeleteNot only this vote, but on other votes such as off-shore drilling, the Patriot Act and other leg, has proven him to be a blue dog dem. I'd rather have an actual Repub in office than a someone who professes to be a Dem yet obeys Repub orders in this state.
Blue Dog Dems ARE better than having a GOP representative. Begich has disappointed but he's also had some critical votes that supported women and gays, healthcare and the economy. Please don't be willing to do to the Democratic Party what the Tea Party-types are doing to the GOP.
DeleteIn addition, it can be a critical factor in who controls the House and Senate (Majority Leader, Speaker, etc.). Much as most Blue Dog democrats irritate me, republican control of both chambers would be far worse.
DeleteThe only thing senators like Begich are good for is that they caucus with the (actual) Democrats so that we don't have a Senate Majority Leader McConnell.
ReplyDeleteThat "only" thing is a REALLY BIG DEAL.
DeleteI get the anger at Begrich. But was this a complete surprise? Did he ever indicate he was pro-gun-control before or during his Senate campaign?
ReplyDeleteNot really a surprise--the biggest problem we have may be that the public is misinformed about the gun issue. Democratic legislators who support gun control and the media need to get the public up to speed on the details.
ReplyDelete"Amazingly, “about 6 out of 10 people who believe we just need to do a better job of enforcing existing laws don’t realize that those laws are far weaker than they think. And just under half of those who want better enforcement don’t know that military-style assaults weapons are, in fact, legal.”"
http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/is-gun-control-dead/
Poll: Ayotte’s Approval Rating Under Water After Voting No On Gun Bill
ReplyDeleteSen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) has seen her once-solid approval rating in New Hampshire take a slide following her opposition to gun control legislation that failed in the Senate, according to a survey from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling released on Wednesday.
Ayotte's approval rating in the latest poll is under water: 44 percent of Granite State voters said they approve of the job she is doing while 46 percent said they disapprove. In PPP's previous survey of New Hampshire in late-October, Ayotte boasted a positive approval rating, with a plurality of 48 percent saying they approved of her job performance at the time and 35 percent saying they disapproved.
PPP's latest findings provided evidence that Ayotte's tumble may be a direct result of her "no" vote on the gun bill that fizzled last week in the face of nearly uniform GOP opposition. The poll found that 75 percent of New Hampshire voters support requiring background checks for buyers at gun shows, a centerpiece of the legislation. Polling conducted in the months since the December mass shooting in Newtown, Conn. has consistently found enormous nationwide support for improving background checks on gun buyers.
According to Wednesday's poll, 50 percent of New Hampshire voters are now less likely to vote for Ayotte in 2016 following her vote on the legislation while 23 percent are more likely to support her re-election campaign. A quarter of voters said her vote will not make a difference on whether or not they choose to support her. The poll showed popular Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan edging Ayotte in an early hypothetical tested by PPP, 46 percent to 44 percent.
Americans for Responsible Solutions, the group spearheaded by fromer Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and her husband Mark Kelly, will begin airing radio ads on Wednesday in New Hampshire taking Ayotte to task for her vote on the background checks bill.
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/poll-ayottes-approval-rating-under-water-after-voting
IT BEGINS: 15-PT. PLUNGE FOR GOP SEN. AFTER GUN VOTE
ReplyDeleteBacklash Brewing...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/24/kelly-ayottes-approval_n_3147834.html
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/113000/gun-background-check-bill-lost-backlash-has-only-just-begun#
be afraid begich, very afraid you sniveling little coward.
ReplyDeleteHeidi Heitkamp betrayed me on gun control
ReplyDeleteI want my money back.
Last October, I gave $2,500 to support Heidi Heitkamp’s campaign to become North Dakota’s junior senator. A few weeks later, she won a surprise victory.
I have had a long career in government and politics, but I don’t donate heavily to political campaigns. When I contribute, it’s because I know the candidate well or am really impressed with the person. Heidi Heitkamp was one of the latter: She struck me as strong-willed, principled and an independent thinker.
But this week, Heitkamp betrayed those hopes.
She voted to block legislation to make gun background checks more comprehensive. Her vote — along with those of 41 Republicans and three other Democrats — was a key reason the measure fell short of the 60 votes needed for passage.
Polling has shown that nine in 10 Americans and eight in 10 gun owners support a law to require every buyer to go through a background check on every gun sale. In North Dakota, the support was even higher: 94 percent. Yet in explaining her vote, Heitkamp had the gall to say that she “heard overwhelmingly from the people of North Dakota” and had to listen to them and vote no. It seems more likely that she heard from the gun lobby and chose to listen to it instead.
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-04-19/opinions/38674850_1_gun-background-gun-lobby-background-checks
Every State needs Senators who always
ReplyDeleteSupport the 2nd Amendment and the NRA
Joe Miller is the best choice for AK
Alaska should elect senators who represent the American people, not an organization.
DeleteMiller being a great choice for the NRA doesn't make him a great choice for the American people. If he wants to represent the NRA, he can go get hired as a lobbyist.
And guess what, many people support the entire second amendment, not just part of it.
Where in the world does a 4 million strong group have the muscle to micromanage every facet of American law that affects their product? Add to that, most NRA members support background checks.
DeleteI don't have to back off the 2nd Amendment, but why don't you guys let up off the right to privacy and women's access to healthcare, you scorched earth motherfuckers?
April 24th.
ReplyDeleteAnother Day in the (Gun Crazy) U.S.A.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/04/24/1204546/-Another-Day-in-the-Gun-Crazy-U-S-A
Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell, who none of us Alaskans know the same way we didn't know Sean Parnell as Palin's Lite, has been putting feelers out with his Facebook posts about running for Senate.
ReplyDeleteSigh.
I am horribly disappointed in Mark Begich. I'll tell him so the next time I see him face to face. But I am comforted that I can make my voice as a constituent heard by our purple Junior Senator. The thought of Joe Miller or that strange man Treadwell as statesmen, just makes me ill.
"Mead Treadwell"?? did sarah name him?
Delete